The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1887-07-23
The Water Question.

LEHlGHToN, July 10, 1887.
EDiroR ADVOCATE. ON Saturday next the
people Of this borough are called upon to decide
a momentous question, the decision OF which.
win materially affect the growth and prosperity
of our town, In your recent issues have no
hced that youare opposed TO waterbeing brought
into town by the borough authorities, and tho
only argument you advance to uphold your opin-
ion Is the "Whlte Elephant on the hill" and the
mistakes made by council at the time of rs cree
ton, giving no reason why it would not be both
feasible and at the same time a source of profit
to this borough to have water brought into it BY
the borough authorities.
Statistics show that water companies stand at
the head of all corporations for sound invest
ment and regular dividend paying concerns.
Since this is a fact, why should the citizens OF
Lehghon allow this matter TO 60 out Of their
control and into that of private individuals who
most asspredly would reap the benefits. feel
certain that were this matter thoroughly under
stood byall our voters Saturdays ballots would
be ten to one in favor of the town. or citizens Of
the town, controlling om water supply. Many
seem to feel a lack OF confidence I'm our borough
authorities, and this is an unfair reflection on
our council for we all believe them TO be honest
and respectable citizens, who are disposed to
act only for the interest Of the people and tax
payers. Furthermore, believe our council to a
man would be willing dn case the voters SO de
creed TO appoint some one Of our heaviest Tux
payers to act as Board Of Water Commission
ers, so that they themselves would be relieved of
the responsibility which would be placed on
those who yearly pay the most taxes Such a
commission would insure economy and be a safe
guard against unnecessary extravaganza, for
they could manage the affair in as economical
poratc body. II would be to their every interest
to do so, and they would accept the responsible
ty as most Of the best business men and heaviest
taxpayers favor the plan of the citizens control
ling this most necessary article of our daily con-
venience and existence. II is fact that may
have not been considered by the majority OF our
citizens that any private corporation will charge
the borough yearly sum for the use of wa ier in
the fre-plugs which will be placed in our streets.
This sum while not so considerable is still an
item which must not be forgotten in an arg-
ment like this. Were the borough to supply the
water the taxpayers would be relieved of this
tax and would receive the water for their own
use at reasonable rates; while If the privilege for
furnishing it is granted to any corporation, said
corporation would have monopoly and could
and would tax the borough for lrepugs and the
citizens for their supply to suit ITSELF 1t seems
to me that the borough should by all means sup
ply the water for this town, and it can do 1t with
but trihing tax for very few years at the
most There is no doubt that the borough could
borrow the money required at from to 3 per
cent, and assuming that $4,000 would be re
= quired the sum has been vanously estimated at
from $4,000 to S70,0O0, but no real estimate hes
been made, therefore let us take the mean this
would make u liability of $1,000 per annum for
IT, -.
borough be compelled to pay company $500 per
annum for fire-pugs and the citizens on a low
estimate $1,000 for water rents for the same
period, that would be an income of $500, or q
deficiency OF $500 for the first year, and this last
sum would be all that it would be necessary for
the taxpayers to make up or in other terms sim
ply the amount that the borough would have
been compelled to pay for plugs to a company.
Then, estimating the growth OF the borough by
the last few years, II would be safe TO anticipate
the erection of from forty to fifty new dwellings
, per year, all OF which would take water. This
at So per spigot would increase the revenue of
the water department $3.50 per year, so that In
. two years the citizens would be relieved Of taxes
and the water rents would pay the interest on
the whole debt Now it appears a safe cacula-
: ton to estimate corresponding Increase each
/ succeeding year, and IN time the water works
, would be making considerably more than the
, interest and could pay off the debt, after which
the receipts would 60 TO fill up the borough treas
ury l submit the above for the serious consid-
Grafton of the voters of the borough, on strictly
business principles We should not allow old
prcJudices against school board Of twelve
years ago, whether well founded or not, to pre-
vail and distract our attention from an important
step to be taken now. l further believe that nc
OF it win furnish our citizens with water unless
g they are confident of good round dividends al
the end OF reasonable time, for this reason ]
favor "home rule" and controlby our taxpayers
and citizens, with prospect of an abolition OF q
tax for fire purposes and in time cheap water foi
: al And compare this with monopoly by a for
: elgn company worked for individual benefit
with an eternal tax on the borough, and the peo
pie at the mercy of a soulless corporation for al
. future time. by the borough keeping control o
- the water department our citizens haYo an op
portunity of investing according to their means
Il in the bonds of the water departments safe
o and sure Investment under their own control
thereby giving them double interest in the
success of the enterprise and becoming both
> debtor and creditor, borrower and investor. Dc
n you want monopoly7 Vote against the borough
and by so doing vote against your own interests
s CITIZEN,
NorE.--We publish "Citizen's'' com.
munication in favor of water being put in
the borough by tho Council. Comment /:
hardly necessary as "Citizen" him
self fully demonstrates that for several
years there will necessarily be deficit eyer
to pay interest. while he leaves no margin
to pay Secretary, Treasurer, Collector, re-
/. pairs for breakage, leakage, sc. Read hi.
letter carefully and you cannot fail to vote
d right. We want water, and must have IT,
but don't overburden our working people
4 with taxes.